Today is Election Day in the City of Knoxville Regular Election.
Polls close at 8 p.m.
You are voting for four City Council seats and for Municipal Judge which sees longtime incumbent John Rosson, Jr. facing Tyler Caviness for his seat.
You must vote at your assigned precinct today so if you need more information you can go to https://knoxcounty.org/election/.
(WVLT) – Multiple crews responded to two brush fires in Anderson County Saturday.
One fire, called the TIOGA fire, was burning in west Anderson County near New River Highway, officials said. Anderson County dispatch told WVLT News that the fire had moved into Morgan County, later jumping its containment line on Sunday and doubling in size from 199 acres to 500 acres.
“Currently all personnel have left the fire to get rest tonight and will be back on it tomorrow,” an official with the forestry department said. “During the day the fire jumped containment and crews pulled back to use roads as fire breaks. Roads are holding well and the added humidity at night has the fire not moving much allowing crew to get rest and will return tomorrow morning before activity picks up midday.”
Officials said Monday morning that crews would be returning around 8:30 a.m. to reinforce fire lines at the TIOGA fire. The TIOGA fire is 100% contained, as of Monday afternoon.
The second fire, located near Scott Brogan Lane and Andy’s Ridge in East Anderson County, also broke out over the weekend. Campbell County Fire Department and Medford and Briceville Volunteer Fire Department crews responded to that location, according to Nathan Waters with the Tennessee Division of Forestry.
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Waters said there were homes at the bottom of the ridge on Scott Broggan Lane, but no evacuations were ordered. Officials with the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office also confirmed there had been no injuries reported and no personal property was damaged.
Officials asked residents to keep the access points and roads clear for emergency vehicles.
“If you live in the area and the fire approaches your property Please call 911 and do not try to fight it,” officials said.
Firefighters will be on scene for a little while longer and hoped to return Tuesday morning to fully contain the fire, according to Kidwell.
“Most of the smoke now is from Forestry back-burning to reduce the fire load,” Anderson County Emergency Management Agency Director Brice Kidwell said.
The Scott Brogan Lane Fire jumped to 210 acres and was 75% contained as of Monday at 10 p.m.
(WVLT) – An officer with the Knoxville Police Department was arrested Monday on federal charges involving the production of child pornography, according to officials with the United States Department of Justice.
Officer Dan Roark, 47, was arrested and appeared in court on the charges.
According to a criminal complaint, the mother of the victim, gave consent to search the content of the victim’s phone. Records from Verizon Wireless showed the victim’s mother was taking pictures of her daughter and sending them to Roark.
The mother was arrested in her home in Scott County, Virginia, on Saturday and told investigators that she sent the pictures to Roark but knew him as Dan Thomas when they met in 2007.
“(Victim’s mother) told law enforcement officers she had met ROARK in 2007 on Yahoo and the two began communicating. At some point during the relationship, ROARK requested (Victim’s mother) take CSAM (child sexual abuse material) pictures of her now ten (10) year old daughter. Evidence shows that these images were produced as early as age five (5) or six (6).”Court Documents
The complaint stated Roark paid her money for the pictures, sometimes up to $200, according to phone records obtained in the court documents.
The arrest sparked from an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, the Scott County Sheriff, Virginia, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and the Ninth Judicial District Attorney’s Office.
Roark will have a detention hearing on Nov. 9, and be kept in federal custody until then.
Roark started at KPD in 2007 and was last on patrol in 2020.
“The allegations against Dan Roark are deeply disturbing and abhorrent. His alleged actions shock the conscience and, if proven true, demonstrate monstrous behavior against a truly innocent victim. I am sickened by these accusations, which in and of themselves have brought immeasurable discredit on our agency and the entire law enforcement profession. We have and will continue to cooperate fully with federal investigators. We will also act with great urgency to resolve this matter and repair the damage done to public trust in the wake of these disturbing allegations.”KPD Chief Paul Noel
The Office of Professional Standards opened its own investigation into the incident as well.
Dollywood hosts its second annual Sensory Sensitive Day on November 18th, as part of its ongoing commitment to providing a welcoming and enjoyable experience for all guests. Dollywood’s Sensory Sensitive Day is a day dedicated to ensuring that visitors with sensory sensitivities can enjoy the park’s attractions and entertainment to the fullest extent. This initiative is a testament to Dollywood’s commitment to making fun and excitement accessible to everyone.
During Sensory Sensitive Day, several accommodations will be made to create a more comfortable environment for guests. These arrangements include reduced noise levels, quieter music and a limited display of lights in designated areas. The Village and Country Fair will open promptly at the same time as the park’s front gate, and Country Fair rides and games will be available exclusively for attendees until noon. Additionally, Santa’s List will be open until noon to visitors of the event, and Midway Market will be open for snack and refreshment purchases.
The Dollywood Express, one of the main attractions for Sensory Sensitive Day, will begin boarding for its first ride shortly after the park opens. This exclusive ride experience will feature a “silent” trip aboard the iconic train, meaning that the whistle will not be blown throughout the duration of the journey. This 20-minute experience is a guest favorite attraction, and will make two silent trips during the event. Visitors with sensory issues should be aware that while the train whistle will not blow from 9 a.m. to noon, there are other sounds associated with this trip to which guests may be sensitive.
The Village opens to all park guests at 11 a.m., but special event activities continue in Country Fair and Grandstand Café opens for guests to purchase lunch. The event concludes at noon, as these exclusive areas open to the public and lights and sounds resume on their regular operating schedule.
Sensory sensitive individuals can find a variety of rides and attractions to enjoy throughout the park. Popular attractions for those with sensory sensitivity include Lil’ Pilots Playground, Granny’s Garden, Rockin’ Roadway and Dragonflier. Guests can enjoy a hands-on candle dipping activity at Old Flames Candles to continue the enjoyment with an immersive experience. Popular shows for individuals with sensory sensitivities include ‘Twas The Night Before Christmas and O’ Holy Night.
Families and individuals attending Sensory Sensitive Day will also have access to Dollywood’s Ride Accessibility Center, conveniently located inside the park next to the Dollywood Emporium. At the RAC, Dollywood staff members provide detailed information about rider requirements to help families make well-informed decisions to safely, comfortably and conveniently experience Dollywood’s thrilling roller coasters, as well as provide a boarding pass tailored specifically to each individual for the rides they can enjoy. Dollywood’s Calming Room will also be accessible to families and individuals if needed.
For more accessibility information, ticket information and parking guidelines, please visit https://www.dollywood.com/
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) A decorated officer with the Knoxville Police Department is arrested Monday, November 6 on federal charges involving the production of child pornography.
According to officials with the United States Department of Justice 47-year-old Dan Roark was arrested at the newly-opened Knoxville Public Security Complex around 2:30 p.m.
Roark started at KPD in 2007 and last served on patrol in October 2020. He was awarded Officer of the Month six times during his career.
“The allegations against Dan Roark are deeply disturbing and abhorrent. His alleged actions shock the conscience and, if proven true, demonstrate monstrous behavior against a truly innocent victim. I am sickened by these accusations, which in and of themselves have brought immeasurable discredit on our agency and the entire law enforcement profession. We have and will continue to cooperate fully with federal investigators. We will also act with great urgency to resolve this matter and repair the damage done to public trust in the wake of these disturbing allegations.” – KPD Chief Paul Noel
The arrest sparked from an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, the Scott County Sheriff, Virginia, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and the Ninth Judicial District Attorney’s Office.
Roark’s police powers have been suspended, and he will remain in federal custody until a November 9 detention hearing.
KPD’s Office of Professional Standards has opened its own investigation into the incident as well.
This is a developing story.
Jefferson City, TN (WOKI) A man is arrested Sunday, November 5 after setting his truck on fire at a gas station in Jefferson City.
Officials with the Jefferson City Police Department say officers responded to the Marathon on U.S. Route 11 East near the Hamblen County line around 7:30 p.m.
After interviewing witnesses and watching video footage, officials say officers determined that the truck’s owner, 61-year-old Randy Allen Hodge, pumped gas into his truck bed and appeared to have ignited the fuel intentionally. He then pulled away from the fuel pumps with the truck bed still on fire, and a bystander extinguished the flames.
Hodge is charged with aggravated arson.
A wildfire is growing in Anderson County as Crews continue battling the fire which has grown to almost 500 acres.
Crews are battling two fires that broke out Saturday, the first in west Anderson County, near New River Highway was 75 acres in size and jumped the county line into Morgan County with media outlets reporting the fire is 80% contained.
The other is in east Anderson County in the Andy’s Ridge Area with 160 acres burned, that fire is 40% contained as of last (Sunday) night.
Officials with the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office say no injuries have been reported.
A Seymour man is arrested for fentanyl and firearm possession.
31 year-old Deonte Brown was stopped by police on Chapman Highway because he was not staying in his lane while driving.
The K9 unit alerted there were drugs in the car. Police found the fentanyl, almost $1,500 in cash and a loaded handgun with a modified switch that allowed the gun to be fired as an automatic gun.
Brown was taken into custody after trying to run away and is charged with escape, possession of a firearm, drug and other charges.
Knoxville Ice Bears Head Coach Brent Clarke has left the program after what team representatives are calling the “worst start to a season in the organization’s 22-year history.”
The resignation comes after the Ice Bears’ 5-2 loss at Fayetteville on Saturday. Ice Bears representatives say Clarke and the program mutually agreed to part ways after Clarke met with Ice Bears co-owner, President and General Manager Mike Murray yesterday (Sunday) afternoon.
“We are grateful for Brent and the time he’s invested into our organization,” Murray said. “Brent and I spoke and we’ve accepted his resignation. We wish he and his family the very best moving forward as we continue to put our efforts into bringing the best fans in the SPHL the success they’ve come to know and expect for more than two decades.”
Murray says the team plans to announce an interim head coach later this week.
“We understand the hockey hasn’t been good enough thus far,” said Murray. “Our goal is and always will be to win championships. We still have 50 games left this season and our intention is to bring in the right coach who will take us closer to that goal.”
The team heads to Huntsville Thursday. Knoxville’s next home game is Friday, November 17th.
Maryville, TN (WOKI) The Blount County Sheriff’s Office is asking for help in finding a missing woman.
BCSO officials say 26 year-old Tyra Marie Grace left a home on October 24 and hasn’t been seen since.
They say she was last seen wearing a pink hoodie and white sweatpants.
Police say Grace does not have a car and has hitchhiked in the past. She left the home without extra clothes, a cell phone, identification and money.
“Tyra has a history of severe depression and drug use,” officials said. “Tyra also has no Blount County ties with the exception of her family members on Winchester Drive.”
She does have connections in Union and Claiborne Counties as well as Lee County, Virginia.
Anyone with information on where she might be was urged to contact the sheriff’s office at 865-273-5000.
